ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Department of Space
Search for life on other planets
At present, ISRO’s planetary missions are exploring the composition of the surface and atmosphere of planetary bodies with remote sensing tools in addition to high-resolution visible imaging to understand the terrain and topography. Our future missions to solar system may explore evidences for organics and future landing missions may include experiments to search for evidence of life.
Department of Space has established one Regional Academic Centre for Space  at MNIT Jaipur. Department of Space has also signed anMoU with Central University of Jammu for establishment of a Centre for Space Science.
A seed funding of Rs 2 crores is offered to RAC-S to start with, which can be enhanced as the project progresses. All the above initiatives are in the initial phase of getting established; therefore no patents are filed as of now.
This information was provided by the Union Minister of State  Development of North-Eastern Region , MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
NIPCCD organizes Online Training on Community Mobilization Strategies for Quality Improvement in Early Childhood Care and Education Services for Voluntary Organization under Mission Poshan 2.0 in New Delhi
National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development  organized an Online Training on Community Mobilization Strategies for Quality Improvement in Early Childhood Care and Education Services for Voluntary Organization at NIPCCD, New Delhi on 8th-9th June 2023.
The objectives of the training were to:
- Orient the participants about the concept and importance of community mobilization.
- Develop skills on techniques and methods of community mobilization and use of participatory learning; action techniques.
- Strengthen the skills of participants on eliciting, community participation in various techniques and developing strategies for the effective implementation of ECCE services.
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Alternatives for Tobacco Farmers
About 1.12 lakh acres land shifted from tobacco farming during last five years to other alternative crops
The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare  has been implementing Crop Diversification Programme , a sub-scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana , in 10 tobacco growing states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal to encourage farmers to shift to alternative crops/cropping system since 2015-16. Under CDP, tobacco growing states have been given the flexibility to take suitable activities / interventions to shift from tobacco crops to alternative agricultural / horticultural crops.
For implementation of the scheme in the 10 tobacco growing states, the Central share of Rs. 667.00 lakh, 667.00 lakh, 667.00 lakh, 1000.00 lakh and 1000.00 lakh were allocated during the year 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22, respectively.
A total of 111889 acres land has been shifted from tobacco farming during last five years i.e. 2017-18 to 2021-22 to other alternative crops/cropping system.
In addition to CDP, the Government of India is also providing flexibility to the States for state specific needs/priorities under RKVY and the States can promote crop diversification under RKVY with the approval of State Level Sanctioning Committee  headed by Chief Secretary of the respective states. The DA&FW also implements various crop development programmes such as the National Food Security Mission on Rice, Wheat, Pulses, Nutri Cereals, Coarse Cereals, Oilseeds and Commercial Crops , Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture  etc. for promotion of agricultural / horticultural crops.
ICAR- Central Tobacco Research Institute, Rajahmundry has recommended alternative cropping system to the States for replacing tobacco.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Office of Principal Scientific Advisor to GoI
Prof. K. VijayRaghavan, the Principal Scientific Adviser India, and Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director IIT Madras, inaugurate the AquaMAP Water Management and Policy Centre
The Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, inaugurated the new water management and policy centre, AquaMAP, at IIT Madras and launched its website – https://aquamap.iitm.ac.in/ on March 19, 2022. Joining him at the launch were Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, Prof. Ligy Philip, Faculty Coordinator of AquaMAP, and Dr. P. Balasubramanian, CEO, Theme Work Analytics and Krishnan Narayanan, President, itihaasa Research and Digital, IIT Madras Alumni Association.
Providing a context in which AquaMAP has been established, Prof. VijayRaghavan said, “Our world faces the consequences of climate change and the pressure on biodiversity. Thus, renewing our air, water, and land and pressing sustainable development to become important.” Prof. Kamakoti added, “Water consumption in the agriculture sector is the maximum among all the needs, and therefore focus on improving the agricultural water use efficiency is one of the major focuses of AquaMAP.”
AquaMAP aims at providing solutions for complex and challenging water problems by designing and evolving smart and optimal water management practices and implementing them in the field, at different locations across the country, as a scalable model by leveraging best practices in management and innovative technologies. AquaMAP is a national water centre and IIT Madras is collaborating with IIT Dharwad around the broad theme of ‘Data Science for Water Security and Agriculture Sustenance’.
The key activities of AquaMAP include:
- Field  implementation of water technologies and management practices
- Identify grand challenges in water/wastewater management for focused attention
- Set up of a state-of-the-art Hydro-Informatics Laboratory
Prof. Ligy Philip, announcing the first three projects the Centre is supporting, said, “We have a multi-disciplinary faculty team, from Chemistry, Civil, Chemical, Humanities departments, supporting me at AquaMAP. We also have a fantastic set of water experts counseling us in our Governing and Advisory Board.”
- Water and soil quality analysis: Creation of a digital twin of the Village for environmental management
- Waste management for Clean and Healthy Village
- Automatic Control of Rural Water Supply Schemes
Dr. Balasubramanian said, “Krishnan and I are thankful to IIT Madras for giving us an opportunity to give back to our alma mater and to the nation through AquaMAP. Through the unique Alumni – Engagement model, the centre will be able to tap into our alumni with expertise and interest in the water domain.”
Find the AquaMAP website at https://aquamap.iitm.ac.in/
List of Governing Board Members, Advisory Board Members: https://dev-aquamap.pantheonsite.io/management/
Prime Minister's Office
Raisina Dialogue-2021
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today delivered a video address at the Inaugural Session of the Raisina Dialogue in virtual format, along with Chief Guests H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda and H.E. Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark.
The 6th Edition of the prestigious Raisina Dialogue, jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Observer Research Foundation,will be held virtually from 13-16 April, 2021.The theme for the 2021 Edition is "#ViralWorld: Outbreaks, Outliers and Out of Control”.
Prime Minister Modi observed that the current edition of the Raisina Dialogue was taking place at a watershed moment in human history in the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic which has been ravaging the world for more than a year. The Prime Minister called upon the global community to introspect on some pertinent questions in the present context.
The Prime Minister emphasized that global systems should adapt themselves, in order to address the underlying causes and not just the symptoms. The Prime Minister called for keeping humanity at the centre of our thoughts and action, and creatingsystems that address the problems of today and the challenges of tomorrow.
The Prime Minister also elaborated upon India’s pandemic response efforts, both domestically as well as in form of assistance to other countries. He called for joint efforts to meet the varied challenges posed by the pandemic and reiteratedthat India would share its strengths for global good.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Special Training to Doctors and Para-Medical Staff in Handling Various Types of Epidemics
The Government has taken several measures to enable training and capacity building in COVID-19. Training, including virtual training, has been provided to doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals and volunteers regarding the relevant aspects of COVID-19. The Government of India has utilized the iGOT  platform to train various personnel. Since the beginning of COVID-19, close to 14 lakh unique users across the country have registered on this platform, recording enrollment of 29.29 lakh for different course. Additionally, more than 80 lakh health workforces have been trained in COVID related topics through the State Governments. Webinars and tutorials on various COVID related subjects were also uploaded by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and reputed institutes like AIIMS , NIMHANS, PGIMER, JIPMER, etc. that recorded a viewership of 2.23 crore.
As informed by National Medical Commission , a competency-based module was introduced by the erstwhile Board of Governors,Medical Council of India  on management of pandemics in the MBBS curriculum in August, 2020.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Finance Commission
Finance Commission meets Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development
The Fifteenth Finance Commission had a meeting with the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development in New Delhi yesterday. The meeting was chaired by the Minister for HRD Shri Prakash along with the Chairman of the Finance Commission Shri N.K. Singh. Members of the Commission and Senior Officers of the Commission as well as MHRD attended the meeting.
The meeting discussed key issues of the sector requiring the Commission’s intervention including investment in School Infrastructure, Teacher’s salaries & training, Career Counselling, school students, Pre-schooling of children akin to the Sikkim model to give a boost to early learning, and other issues.
The meeting also discussed steps to attract greater to private capital and private Partnership into the school education sector as well as integrate B.Ed courses into two year integrated BA.B.ED courses, B.Com.B.ED courses in the future to streamline the availability of trained teachers.
The Commission expressed concern over parents’ preference to send children to Private English schools over the Government schools and stressed on the requirement for evaluation of schools and dissemination of the results to help parents in making informed choices.
The HRD has asked for the support from 15th Finance Commission on the following issues:
- Incentive based grants to States based on Performance Grading Index .
- Requirement of Central funds amounting to a minimum of Rs.4,37,994.74 crore  and Rs.5,66,087.74 crore to meet the SDG Goals by 2030.
- Ring fencing  of resources devolved to the States for School Education OR clear award for States and UTs for implementation of RTE Act, 2009 and other essential requirements .
The Commission is scheduled to hold its second meeting with MHRD on 22nd February to deliberate on the issues of Higher Education.
Ministry of Finance
Two instalments of tax devolution to State Governments amounting to
Rs. 1,16,665 crore Released today
This in line with the commitment of Government of India to strengthen the hands of States to accelerate their capital and developmental expenditure
The Union Government has released two instalments of tax devolution to State Governments amounting to Rs. 1,16,665 crore today , as against normal monthly devolution of Rs..58,333 crore.
This is in line with the commitment of Government of India to strengthen the hands of States to accelerate their capital and developmental expenditure.
State-wise breakup of amounts released is given below in the table:
State-wise distribution of Net Proceeds of Union Taxes and Duties for November 2022
|
|
Sl. No
|
|
Name of State
|
|
Total 
|
|
1
|
|
ANDHRA PRADESH
|
|
4721
|
|
2
|
|
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
|
|
2050
|
|
3
|
|
ASSAM
|
|
3649
|
|
4
|
|
BIHAR
|
|
11734
|
|
5
|
|
CHHATTISGARH
|
|
3975
|
|
6
|
|
GOA
|
|
450
|
|
7
|
|
GUJARAT
|
|
4058
|
|
8
|
|
HARYANA
|
|
1275
|
|
9
|
|
HIMACHAL PRADESH
|
|
968
|
|
10
|
|
JHARKHAND
|
|
3858
|
|
11
|
|
KARNATAKA
|
|
4255
|
|
12
|
|
KERALA
|
|
2246
|
|
13
|
|
MADHYA PRADESH
|
|
9158
|
|
14
|
|
MAHARASHTRA
|
|
7370
|
|
15
|
|
MANIPUR
|
|
835
|
|
16
|
|
MEGHALAYA
|
|
895
|
|
17
|
|
MIZORAM
|
|
583
|
|
18
|
|
NAGALAND
|
|
664
|
|
19
|
|
ODISHA
|
|
5283
|
|
20
|
|
PUNJAB
|
|
2108
|
|
21
|
|
RAJASTHAN
|
|
7030
|
|
22
|
|
SIKKIM
|
|
453
|
|
23
|
|
TAMIL NADU
|
|
4759
|
|
24
|
|
TELANGANA
|
|
2452
|
|
25
|
|
TRIPURA
|
|
826
|
|
26
|
|
UTTAR PRADESH
|
|
20929
|
|
27
|
|
UTTARAKHAND
|
|
1304
|
|
28
|
|
WEST BENGAL
|
|
8777
|
|
|
|
Grand Total
|
|
116665
Special Service and Features
STAFF SELECTION COMMISSION SUB-INSPECTOR IN DELHI POLICE & CENTRAL ARMED POLICE FORCES EXAMINATION, 2022
Staff Selection Commission will be conducting “Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces Examination, 2022” in Computer Based Mode. In Southern Region, 56597 candidates have been admitted for the examination. The Examination will be held in 22 Venues at 19 Centres/Cities viz. Guntur, Kurnool, Rajahmundry, Tirupati, Vishakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Kakinada, Nellore, Chirala in Andhra Pradesh; Hyderabad, Warangal, Karimnagar in Telangana and Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Tiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli, Vellore in Tamil Nadu.
2. In Southern Region, the examination will be held for 3 days from 09.11.2022 to 11.11.2022. There will be 3 Shifts – 1st Shift from 09:00 AM to 11:00 AM, 2nd Shift from 12:30 PM to 02:30 PM and 3rd Shift from 04:00 PM to 06:00 PM.
3. Facility to download e-Admission Certificates will be provided in our website in such a way that candidates can download the same ONLY 4 DAYS BEFORE THEIR ACTUAL DATE OF EXAMINATION AND ALL THE SUBSEQUENT DAYS TILL THEIR DATE OF EXAMINATION. These details are also intimated to the candidates through SMS to their mobile numbers and through e-mail to their e-mail IDs as provided by them in their Online Applications.
4. PROHIBITED ITEMS such as watches, books, paper chits, magazines, electronic gadgets  are STRICTLY NOT ALLOWED in the examination hall. If any such item is found to be in possession of a candidate in the examination hall, his/her candidature is liable to be cancelled and legal/criminal proceedings could be initiated against him/her. He/she would also be liable to be debarred from appearing in future examinations of the Commission for a period of 3–7 years. Candidates are, therefore, strictly advised not to bring prohibited items and bags into the Examination Venue.
5. Candidates are further requested to note that they shall not be permitted to attend the examination without e-Admission Certificate and Original Valid Identity Proof as enumerated in the Instructions attached with e-Admission Certificate. All candidates are, therefore, requested to download their e-Admission Certificate without fail. For further queries/clarifications, candidates may contact Southern Regional Office Helpline Numbers .
6. The Commission has taken necessary precautions in view of COVID-19 and the candidates are requested to follow the instructions given in e-Admission Certificate regarding COVID-19 scrupulously for safe and smooth conduct of Examination.
7. The Press Note is issued for information and benefit of the candidates, according to a press release issued by K.Nagaraja, Regional Director, Staff Selection Commission .
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Ministry of Minority Affairs
“Hunar Haat” being organised at Rampur  from 18th to 27th Dec, 2020
Indigenous products of master artisans are a major attraction at “Hunar Haat” in Rampur: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
“Cultural programmes on the theme of “Jaan Bhi, Jahaan Bhi”, to be presented every day by renowned artists”
“Kavi Sammelan” will be organised on the theme of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” on 27th December, 2020”
Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Shri Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate the 23rd “Hunar Haat” of indigenous master artisans, being organised by Union Ministry of Minority Affairs at Numaish Ground, Panvadiya in Rampur , tomorrow 18th December 2020.
Union Minister for Minority Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi; Khadi and Village Industries Commission Chairman Shri Vinay Kumar Saxena and Shri Sidharth Nath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister for Khadi and Villages Industries and MSME will be present as the Chief Guests on the occasion.
Shri Naqvi said that indigenous products of master artisans are a major attraction at “Hunar Haat” in Rampur being organised from 18th to 27th December, 2020. The people will also enjoy traditional delicacies from almost every corner of the country at this “Hunar Haat”. Besides, different cultural programmes on the theme of “Jaan Bhi, Jahaan Bhi”, to be presented every day by renowned artists, are also a major attraction. This “Hunar Haat” is an occasion to live the feeling of communal harmony and the country’s “Unity in Diversity”. “Kavi Sammelan” will be organised on the theme of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” on 27th December, 2020.
Shri Naqvi said that master artisans and craftsmen from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Nagaland, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Goa, Punjab, Uttrakhand, Ladakh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu-Kashmir, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and other places of the country have brought their indigenous products made with wood, brass, bamboo, glass, cloth, paper, clay etc.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
Cabinet approves infusion of Rs.1,500 crore in Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited 
Employment generation of approximately 10200 jobs-year and CO2 equivalent emission reduction of approximately 7.49 Million Tonnes CO2/year
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today approved the equity infusion of Rs.1500 crore in Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited .
This equity infusion will help in employment generation of approximately 10200 jobs-year and CO2 equivalent emission reduction of approximately 7.49 Million Tonnes CO2/year.
Additional equity infusion of Rs.1500 crore by Government of India will enable IREDA:
- To lend Rs.12000 crore approximately to the RE sector, thus facilitate the debt requirement of RE of additional capacity of approximately 3500-4000 MW.
- To enhance its networth which will help it in additional RE financing, thus contributing better to the Government of India targets for RE.
- To improve the capital-to-risk weighted assets ratio  to facilitate its lending and borrowing operations.
IREDA, a mini ratna  company under the administrative control of MNRE was set up in 1987 to work as a specialised non-banking finance agency for the Renewable Energy  sector. IREDA with more than 34 years of techno-commercial expertise, plays a catalytic role in the RE project financing which gives confidence to the FIs/banks to lend in the sector.
PIB Headquarters
PIB’S BULLETIN ON COVID-19
|
|
- 199 cr vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
- India's Active caseload currently stands at 1,31,043
- Active cases stand at 0.30%
- Recovery Rate currently at 98.50%
- 13,265 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to
- 4,29,96,427
- 13,615 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours
- Daily positivity rate 
- Weekly Positivity Rate 
- 86.73 cr Total Tests conducted so far; 4,21,292 tests conducted in the last 24 hours
#Unite2FightCorona #IndiaFightsCorona
Press Information Bureau
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Government of India
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Shri Anurag Thakur interacts with participants from various universities ahead of Khelo India University Games 2021 at Bengaluru
The Minister inspects the arrangements made to ensure participants have a memorable experience at KIUG2021
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Anurag Thakur paid a surprise visit to the Jain University Global Campus-venue for 13 disciplines including new additions Mallakhamba and Yogasana.
The athletic young minister walked to various sporting arenas and took cognizance of the arrangements made for the participants to ensure they have a memorable event at the KIUG. Reminiscent of his playing days as a cricketer, the minister said, "Jain University along with the Karnataka State Government is doing a fantastic job of hosting these events with best facilities for athletes taking part in the Khelo India University Games. Watching these athletes here today, I am reminded of my University days when I played cricket. Some of the tournaments held in places like Darbhanga and Samastipur in Bihar, the facilities used to not be up to the mark. But infrastructure has improved so much today and you can see the kind of facilities being provided here for athletes. Our initiative through the KIUG is to provide athletes a platform that is on-par with international standards."
On asked what he would say to budding athletes, Shri Thakur said, "Play in the spirit of sportsmanship. I would advice them to propagate clean sports and not use performance enhancements drugs. That's why we have NADA here to give athletes the right information and create more awareness about doping particularly to young athletes at the university level."
He even interacted with participants from different universities to learn about their events and their ambitions in sport.
One such athlete the minister spoke with was S Santhosh of SRM university men’s volleyball team. He said, “ It was a humbling experience meeting with our sports minister Shri Anurag Thakur Ji. He encouraged us to keep putting in the hard work and keep playing for our respective state and universities. It always feels very motivating when the minister himself comes up to us and has a chat regarding our sport, also not every day do we get to witness a senior minister playing with the athlete which only makes us feel even more overwhelmed ”
The sports minister arrived at the volleyball venue in the morning when the matches between HRM and AWU  in the women’s section and SRM university Chennai and AWU in men’s section was underway. He interacted with both the teams and wished them good luck for their upcoming matches. He also had an interaction with the referees and the audience too. Apart from this, the minister indulged in a round of volleyball himself.